The Papua New Guinea government is not ready to open the international highway on the border of Vanimo and Jayapura in Indonesia. A government source said Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had written to the Indonesian President Susila Bambang Yudhoyono informing him that PNG was not yet prepared for the opening.
The senior government officer said Sir Michael had asked the Indonesian goverment to postpone the event for an indefinite period until PNG feels that it is ready for it.
The international highway border was scheduled to open on Friday 21st July.
However, it has been reported that most of the facilities on the PNG side of the border at Wutung were not completed yet.
Sandaun Governor Carlos Yuni and his provincial government decided to postpone the border highway opening.
Mr. Yuni said in a statement that most of the planned facilities at the border were incomplete.
The opening of the road will allow vehicles to travel between Vanimo and Jayapura. Mr. Yuni is not satisfied with the security arrangement for the border post and was not impressed with the level of work done on the infrastructure.
There have also been reports from Vanimo that the Indonesians have prepared for the official opening with major work.